Pierre Paulin at the Centre Pompidou

‘Butterfly’, Mushroom’, ‘Tulip’ and ‘Ribbon Chair’ are just some of the iconic creations that distinguish the career of the pioneering modernist interiors and furniture designer Pierre Paulin, and which you can see alongside many more in a new retrospective at the Centre Pompidou. A panoramic overview covering some forty years of astonishing creativity, this exhibition draws on archival materials provided by the designer’s own family. A sculptor of space, Paulin promoted the use of modern materials and mass production techniques for his unfussy but beautifully considered designs that were always centred upon comfort. Among the rare pieces dating from the 1950s are prototypes and original projects. You can admire this dialogue between the human form and comfort as you relax in reproductions of classic Paulin chair designs. Chosen in 1971 by Claude and Georges Pompidou to grace the private apartments of the Elysée Palace, the works of Pierre Paulin would not have looked out of place on the sets of James Bond movies. The Calmette villa in the Cevennes was another amazing Paulin design dating from the 1990s. The living room is reproduced here, with its sliding carpeted wall and four ‘Tongue’ armchairs. Inspirational. JR.